Open research Africa最新文献

{"title":"NOMAD: metagenomic characterisation of the viral pathogen composition in outbreaks of non-malaria acute febrile illness cases.","authors":"Benard W Kulohoma, Ibrahim Ng'eno","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.13406.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.13406.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The clinical importance of non-malaria febrile acute illness (NM-AFI) in patients with a negative parasitological test has become apparent, with the progressive reduction in malaria transmission in endemic regions. Bacterial pathogens, for example <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> and <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i>, which contribute disproportionally to febrile illness, are now preventable by vaccines. However, there are no vaccines, and little is known about viral NM-AFI prevalence, proliferation, virulence, and transmission chains between hosts. Although the predominant viral causes of NM-AFI are established, it is unclear if there are other NM-AFI associated emerging infectious viral pathogens that previously remained undetectable by conventional diagnostic strategies, for example severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Presumptive broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions to aparasitaemic patients not only drive drug resistance, but also lead to poor treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that insights on NM-AFI etiology, and consequently case management, could be improved by exploiting viral sequence diversity to identify viral pathogens present within metagenomics samples. We exploited simulated and existing infectious disease (Ebola, hepatitis C, chikungunya, and mosquito-borne arboviruses) metagenomic datasets to determine the composition of viral pathogens present, by implementing profile Hidden Markov Models derived from Swiss-Prot viral reference sequences for accurate pathogen detection and classification. Our analysis identified a combination of sequences from multiple viral etiological agents within the same disease sample. This approach provides a granular perspective of multiple viral etiological agents present within a single intra-host disease episode. It highlights prevalent viral strains that can subsequently be routinely detected using directed diagnostic tests to improve disease surveillance in endemic regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"5 ","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12744201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145859601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hybrid Thermodynamic and Machine Learning Optimization of Plate Heat Exchanger Performance for Brewery Cooling Systems in Uganda.","authors":"Byamanywoha Edgar, Val Hyginus Udoka Eze, Saadelnour Abdueljabbar Adam, Sanusi Yinka, Bubu Pius Erheyovwe","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.16068.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.16068.1","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Efficient thermal management in brewing is critical for product quality, energy efficiency, and sustainability. At Nile Breweries Limited, Mbarara, Uganda, the Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) cooling system has faced persistent challenges in achieving the target wort outlet temperature of 283 K (10 °C) or lower. Understanding and optimizing the thermodynamic and operational performance of this system is essential, particularly in resource-constrained Sub-Saharan production environments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;An integrated optimization framework was developed by combining thermodynamic modeling, empirical diagnostics, and machine learning. Over 50 production batches were monitored using a high-resolution (1 Hz) dataset to assess short-term performance, while a longer dataset of 480 batches was analyzed for fouling trends. Statistical regression, LMTD analysis, and correlation tests were applied to evaluate thermal relationships, and a feedforward Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was trained on seven operational parameters in MATLAB/Simulink to enable predictive control.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Only 14.60% of production batches achieved the cooling target (95% CI: 11.2%-18.7%). Regression analysis showed a significant positive association between wort mass flow rate and outlet temperature (slope = 1.24 K/(kg/s), p &lt; 0.001, R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.42), and a negative correlation with heat exchanger effectiveness (slope = -0.0037 per kg/s, p = 0.012, adjusted R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.28). LMTD decreased with increasing wort flow (slope = -0.42 K/(kg/s), p = 0.002, R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.36), revealing a throughput-efficiency trade-off. Water flow rate improvements diminished beyond 12.1 kg/s, showing no significant effect on effectiveness (p = 0.18) or LMTD (p = 0.15). Fouling analysis indicated a gradual decline in mass-corrected effectiveness across 480 batches (slope = -0.00001 per batch, p &lt; 0.001, R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.22), while wort pH exerted a minor negative effect on effectiveness (r = -0.1645). The ANN demonstrated strong predictive accuracy (R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.8762, MSE = 0.0578, MAE = 0.0938), with residuals confirming minimal bias. Optimization identified optimal operating ranges of 16-17 kg/s for water flow and &lt;16.5 kg/s for wort flow.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The study highlights a significant performance shortfall in the brewery's cooling system, driven primarily by throughput-efficiency trade-offs, diminishing thermal returns, and progressive fouling. By integrating classical thermodynamic analysis with machine learning, the research demonstrates a robust and scalable framework for enhancing energy efficiency and adaptive process control in brewing and other energy-intensive industries. This work advances the application of intelligent thermal management strategies in Sub-Saharan industrial contexts, with future research recommended in real-time fouling detection, economic optimization of flow c","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"8 ","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12963833/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Africa's research publishing landscape: examining journals, publishers, and the infrastructure behind them.","authors":"Nora Ndege, Haseeb Md Irfanullah, Jon Harle, Tom Drake","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.16040.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.16040.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Africa's research publishing sector is growing but remains largely fragmented and under-resourced, posing major barriers to the visibility, accessibility, and global integration of African research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This paper presents a continent-wide mapping of Africa's research publishing ecosystem, drawing on five integrated datasets covering 1,169 publishers and 1,790 journals to assess the scale, thematic content, linguistic diversity, and the degree of openness characterising the African publishing landscape.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis reveals that the majority of journals are published by single-journal entities embedded within universities, learned societies, and research institutes. While this decentralised model allows for locally driven publishing and alignment with national research priorities, it is often constrained by limited infrastructure, inconsistent metadata practices, and lack of professional publishing support. Geographically, publishing activity is concentrated in a few countries, most notably Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa - reflecting disparities in research investment and infrastructure across the continent. Disciplinary patterns reveal a strong emphasis on the social sciences and humanities, shaped by post-independence academic development and limited commercial interest in these fields. The predominance of English in journal publishing enhances global visibility but risks marginalising non-Anglophone scholarship. The study also explores the increasing role of commercial publishers in improving visibility and editorial standards, while raising concerns about data control, sustainability, and long-term ownership of African research outputs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The paper concludes by highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, African-led investments in shared infrastructure, multilingual publishing strategies, and national indexing systems. These efforts are essential to enhance research equity, reduce dependency on external platforms, and ensure African knowledge systems are robust, inclusive, and visible in a rapidly evolving global publishing environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"8 ","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12775667/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145936730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic empowerment and various preventive strategies play a role in reducing asymptomatic malaria towards the end of the rainy season.","authors":"Chibuike Okpala, Ifeoma Umeh, Linda Onyeka Anagu","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.15809.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.15809.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Asymptomatic malaria is responsible for persistent malaria transmission. The prevalence of malaria in children under 5 years in Anambra State, Nigeria, is declining. The sustained transmission of malaria threatens to reverse this decline, as indicated by the high severe malaria cases during the rainy transmission season. We ascertained the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria using the malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT) and the determinants of asymptomatic malaria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the end of the rainy season in November 2024 among 130 consenting apparently healthy adults aged 18 years and above residing in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State using a standardised self-administered questionnaire and a P. falciparum mRDT. The questionnaire sought information on the participants' sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, malaria healthcare-seeking behaviour, use of malaria prevention measures, environmental conditions, and perceptions of malaria risk. A finger-prick was used for the mRDT kit. Data were analysed using Stata 17/BE. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with asymptomatic malaria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 130 participants, 26.15% (34/130) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum. There was an overreliance on personal feelings for malaria diagnosis. Covering water containers around a house could be an effective protective measure against asymptomatic malaria. The odds (odds ratio (OR): 0.29/0.27, 95% (CI): 0.07/0.06 - 1.24) of having asymptomatic malaria were lower in those who agreed that 'the cost of malaria prevention tools, such as Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), insecticides and mosquito repellents, is reasonable' compared to those who did not.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among semi-immune adult participants residing in the Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA) was 26.15%. Having the financial means to access resources for malaria prevention can lead to healthier behaviours and actions that reduce malaria transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"8 ","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12375191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the use of natural products to ameliorate its immunotoxic effects: A review.","authors":"Gilbert Kipkoech, Mercy Jepkorir, Sally Kamau, Alice Wanyoko, Susan Kibunja, Rechard Amozi Jeremiah, Johnson Masese, Vincent Ntui-Njock, Charles Mutai, Peter Mwitari","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.14406.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.14406.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aflatoxin B ₁ (AFB ₁), a potent mycotoxin, is known to be an immunotoxic agent that causes various immune system disorders. It can cause immunosuppression by direct toxic effect on the host or by its ability to interfere with the immune response and thereby lead to secondary infections. The immunomodulatory effects of AFB ₁ and its metabolites have been reported in many studies. Yet, the exact mechanisms responsible for these immunomodulatory effects are still obscure. This review summarizes the current findings on the interaction between AFB ₁ and the host immune system, while also highlighting other potential mechanisms involved in AFB ₁-induced immunosuppression. These potential mechanisms include modulation of cytokine production, production of inflammatory mediators and their receptors, activation of pro-inflammatory pathways, alteration in cell surface receptors involved in T cell activation and regulation of apoptosis. The review also discusses the findings on natural products that have been found capable of inhibiting AFB ₁-induced immunosuppression in various animal models. With the latest exploration of natural products as a solution, the burden of aflatoxicosis in society is likely to subdue. Some of the promising natural products that have been highlighted to have ameliorative effects include grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), bentonite clay, smectites clay and <i>Spirulina plantesis</i> among others. Considering the seriousness of aflatoxicosis in the public domain and lack of effective management approaches, there is an urgent need for more research to understand AFB ₁-induced immunotoxicity and possible remedies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"6 ","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11885904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143588425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of botanical powders and the assassin bug, <i>Alloeocranum biannulipes</i> Mont. and Sign. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) against <i>Dinoderus porcellus</i> Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) infesting yam chips.","authors":"Yêyinou Laura Estelle Loko, Joelle Toffa, Innocent Djegbe, Armand Vodounnon, Antonio Sinzogan, Kitherian Sahayaraj, Manuele Tamo","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.15173.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openresafrica.15173.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Dinoderus porcellus</i> Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is the main pest of stored dried yam chips that causes significant losses in less than 3 months. The assassin bug, <i>Alloeocranum biannulipes</i> (Montrouzier & Signoret) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and the African mahogany ( <i>Khaya senegalensis</i> (Desv.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae)), the ackee ( <i>Blighia sapida</i> K. Koenig (Sapindaceae)), and bridelia ( <i>Bridelia ferruginea</i> Benth. (Euphorbiaceae)) leaf powders have proven to be efficient in the control of this pest.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the compatibility of the leaf powders of these medicinal plants and the predator <i>A. biannulipes</i> in the integrated management of <i>D. porcellus</i> under laboratory and farm conditions. Various leaf powders were tested at a concentration of 6% (w/w) with or without the predator. Infested yam chips without any treatment served as negative control and those mixed with a synthetic insecticide as positive control. The mortality rate of <i>D. porcellus</i> was recorded under laboratory conditions. While, the dynamic population of <i>D. porcellus</i>, their damage, and weight loss of yam chips were recorded 8 weeks after treatment under farm conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that no combination of leaf powders and predators could induce complete mortality of <i>D. porcellus</i> like the synthetic insecticide. No significant difference in terms of the survival of <i>A. biannulipes</i> exposed to botanical powders was observed compared to the positive control. Under farm conditions, <i>B. ferruginea</i> leaf powder showed a sub-lethal effect on the predator <i>A. biannulipes</i> and no impact on the abundance of <i>D. porcellus</i>. However, the survival of <i>D. porcellus</i> was significantly reduced by the combination of <i>K. senegalensis</i> leaf powder and <i>A. biannulipes,</i> which did not allow the reproduction of the predator.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results suggest that an augmentative biological control program with the release of <i>A. biannulipes</i> after the introduction of <i>K. senegalensis</i> leaf powder is practicable for the management of <i>D. porcellus</i> in yam chips.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"7 ","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775442/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomics insights into the microbial resistome and virulome composition of Kampala’s wastewater","authors":"Stephen Kanyerezi, Patricia Nabisubi, Grace Kebirungi, Ivan Sserwadda, Benson R. Kidenya, Daudi Jjingo, Gerald Mboowa","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.15040.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openresafrica.15040.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections represent a major global health threat, causing approximately 700,000 deaths each year directly due to AMR-related issues worldwide. In Africa, 42.6% of countries lack sufficient data on AMR, highlighting a crucial gap in our reports. Consequently, there's a pressing need for thorough AMR surveillance data. Urban sewage, harboring a diverse array of microbes from sizable and mostly healthy populations, offers an excellent sampling opportunity. This study set out to identify and assess the microbes present in urban sewage in Kampala, while also analyzing the microbial resistome and virulome associated with urban sewage. Methods Samples were gathered from two wastewater treatment facilities, capturing data from both wet and dry seasons to reflect population behavior across seasons. DNA was extracted from these samples and underwent shotgun metagenomics sequencing. The resulting FastQ files were analyzed using a tailored metagenomics approach to identify microbial profiles, antibiotic-resistant genes, and virulence factors. Results In the pathobiome examined, Pseudomonas psychrophila, a fish pathogen, was the most prevalent, while Klebsiella pneumoniae was the least prevalent. Analysis identified 23 resistant genes, primarily conferring resistance to tetracyclines. Additionally, 29 virulence factors were identified, with a predominant association with bacterial motility. Notably, all of these virulence factors were found within Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1. Conclusion The utilization of shotgun metagenomics in sewage analysis is crucial for ongoing monitoring of microbial diversity and antimicrobial resistance. This approach uncovers intricate details that would be challenging or costly to obtain through conventional methods like PCR and culture-based techniques.","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":" 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141829286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined effects of the assassin bug alloeocranum biannulipes mont. And sign. (hemiptera: reduviidae) and botanical powders in the control of the stored yam chips beetle, dinoderus porcellus lesne (coleoptera : bostrichidae)","authors":"Y. L. Loko, Joelle Toffa, Innocent Djégbe, Armand Vodounnon, A. Sinzogan, Kitherian Sahayaraj, M. Tamò","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.15173.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openresafrica.15173.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is the main pest of stored dried yam chips that causes significant losses in a few months. The assassin bug, Alloeocranum biannulipes (Montrouzier & Signoret) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and the Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Blighia sapida K. Koenig (Sapindaceae) and Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) leaf powders have proven to be efficient in the control of this pest. Methods This study aims to evaluate the compatibility of the leaf powders of these medicinal plants and the predator A. biannulipes in the integrated management of D. porcellus under laboratory and farm conditions. Various leaf powders were tested at a concentration of 6% (w/w) with or without the predator. Yam chips mixed with leaf powder from each species served as negative and those mixed with a synthetic insecticide as positive controls. Results The results revealed that no combination of leaf powders and predators could induce complete mortality of D. porcellus like the synthetic insecticide. No significant difference in terms of the survival of A. biannulipes exposed to botanical powders was observed compared to the positive control. Under farm conditions, B. ferruginea leaf powder showed a sub-lethal effect on the predator A. biannulipes and no impact on the abundance of D. porcellus. However, the survival of D. porcellus was significantly reduced by the combination of K. senegalensis leaf powder and A. biannulipes, which did not allow the reproduction of the predator. Conclusions We recommend the combination of K. senegalensis leaf powder and A. biannulipes for the short-term conservation of yam chips as part of an augmentative biological control program. For long-term conservation, we suggest the use of a combination of B. sapida leaf powder with the predator A. biannulipes because it presented a reduced population of D. porcellus after 8 weeks of storage and offspring of A. biannulipes.","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"102 39","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141667328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-repeat sequences identification using genome mining techniques for developing highly sensitive molecular diagnostic assay for the detection of <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i>.","authors":"Clement Shiluli, Shwetha Kamath, Bernard N Kanoi, Racheal Kimani, Michael Maina, Harrison Waweru, Moses Kamita, Ibrahim Ndirangu, Hussein M Abkallo, Bernard Oduor, Nicole Pamme, Joshua Dupaty, Catherine M Klapperich, Srinivasa Raju Lolabattu, Jesse Gitaka","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.14316.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openresafrica.14316.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> ( <i>C. trachomatis</i>) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). In 2019, the World Health Organization reported about 131 million infections. The majority of infected patients are asymptomatic with cases remaining undetected. It is likely that missed <i>C. trachomatis</i> infections contribute to preventable adverse health outcomes in women and children. Consequently, there is an urgent need of developing efficient diagnostic methods. In this study, genome-mining approaches to identify identical multi-repeat sequences (IMRS) distributed throughout the <i>C. trachomatis</i> genome were used to design a primer pair that would target regions in the genome. Genomic DNA was 10-fold serially diluted (100pg/μL to 1×10 ^-3pg/μL) and used as DNA template for PCR reactions. The gold standard PCR using 16S rRNA primers was also run as a comparative test, and products were resolved on agarose gel. The novel assay, <i>C. trachomatis</i> IMRS-PCR, had an analytical sensitivity of 4.31 pg/µL, representing better sensitivity compared with 16S rRNA PCR (9.5 fg/µL). Our experimental data demonstrate the successful development of lateral flow and isothermal assays for detecting <i>C. trachomatis</i> DNA with potential use in field settings. There is a potential to implement this concept in miniaturized, isothermal, microfluidic platforms, and laboratory-on-a-chip diagnostic devices for reliable point-of-care testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"7 ","pages":"2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11109563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141087734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rising substance use disorders in Malawi: analysis of hospital-based data (2010 to 2019)","authors":"Sandra Jumbe, Chris Newby, Joel Nyali, Wongani Ndovi, N. Silungwe","doi":"10.12688/openresafrica.14360.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openresafrica.14360.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background Africa has a long history of substance abuse, mostly limited to alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, with the East African region being home to one of the world’s highest rates. There are reports of increasing substance abuse in Malawi but limited research evidence to provide details on the extent and nature of the issue. Despite indications of high prevalence, help seeking behaviour among the population is minimal. Mental health services are underfunded by government, and not a key health priority. Access to affordable psychosocial treatment for substance abuse is limited. This paper reports analysis of service utilisation patterns among those assessed at the St John of God (SJOG) Hospital and referred for psychosocial services for substance abuse treatment since its establishment in 2010. This is the first study in Malawi reporting routinely collected patient data related to substance abuse treatment from outpatient psychosocial services. Methods We descriptively analysed retrospective routinely collected data related to substance use disorders from two SJOG hospital sites that provide psychosocial or psychopharmacological treatment to service users at the mental health clinic from 2010 to 2019. Results Analysis of routinely collected data indicated increasing substance abuse treatment within SJOG psychosocial services between 2010 to 2019, with alcohol, chamba (cannabis) and tobacco related substance use disorders being predominant conditions among service users. Age-related data from 2018–2019 showed 22% of service users were under 18 years, indicating evidence of youth substance abuse. Conclusions These findings indicate growing service utilisation for substance use treatment in outpatient psychosocial services over the last decade in Malawi. Importantly, there is need for better electronic health data recording infrastructure to facilitate monitoring of incidents to inform extent of substance use issues and evidence-based solutions for treatment services in Malawi.","PeriodicalId":74358,"journal":{"name":"Open research Africa","volume":"594 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140719094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}